Prince William and Duchess Kate are still basking in their first year of martial bliss without a baby bump in sight, but when the couple is ready to welcome their firstborn, if the child is a daughter, she will be eligible to one day be Queen. For the first time in British history.
Under current law, males always inherit the British throne unless there are no male heirs, as was the case with William’s grandma, Queen Elizabeth II, who had one sister but no brothers when she took the throne following her father’s death. But that could be about to change. On Friday, English lawmakers gave a nod of approval to implement a reformed version of the traditional royal succession rules.
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Leaders of the 16 former British colonies, meeting at a Commonwealth summit opened by The Queen this week, are a step closer to dumping ancient laws that say males take precedence over females in the succession to the throne, and that royals can’t marry Roman Catholics. The Commonwealths are now set to introduce new legislation at home to put the reforms into effect. Once passed, the measure will especially affect the younger generation of royals: If Wills & Kate’s first-born child is a girl, she will succeed to the throne as queen even if her parents later produce a younger brother. And if William’s younger brother, Prince Harry of Wales, one day decides he wants to marry a Catholic, he would be allowed to wed without losing his place in the line of succession.
British Prime Minister David Cameron says the old rules are outdated and no longer make sense in the modern era.
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